Thursday, November 2, 2006

And I don't watch ER, either

Edit: Update below. In a nutshell: not dying.

So, tomorrow? I'm going to the doctor. After having been hounded to within an inch of my life by the Husband, who is sick - sick, he tells you - of my bitching about still feeling achy and unwell nearly a month after actually being ill and run aground by the TurboBaby, I finally sucked it up and made an appointment.

Not exactly newsworthy, I know. But here's the thing: I hate going to the doctor. HATE. IT. I can never quite explain what's wrong with me and always end up sounding vague and confused and when they ask me questions about my general health and how I take care myself I usually end up fudging the truth so as not to sound like a total screw-up (yes, yes, three square meals a day, lots of liquids, plenty of exercise). I worry about not having the right answers (have I been nauseaus, or dizzy? Have I had an earache, or a sore throat that reaches back into the ears? Have I had a dry cough or a hacking cough? Has this been going on for two weeks, or three?) and not giving the right information (did I forget to mention the headaches? the ringing in the ears? the lingering feeling of dread?) I sit in the waiting room or on the examination table consumed with anxiety and guilt, veering emotionally back and forth between the conviction that I am dying from some rare and fatal illness and the conviction that there is nothing at all wrong with me and I am wasting everyone's time. And I fret and worry and worry and fret about what will happen to me if I am sick (will there be needles? Will I die? Will there be needles?)

(Which, gah. Don't even get me started on my fear - my toe-curling, gut-twisting fear - of blood tests and gynecological exams. Pregnancy, I needn't tell you, was torture with its never-ending cycle of both.)

It's too much pressure, the doctor's visit. I can't handle it.

So I avoid it, wherever possible. But I've been suffering from headaches and insomnia and occasional nauseau and earaches and general tiredness and malaise for nearly a month now, and it's getting old. It's getting old, and it's getting in the way of life. I'm tired, and frustrated with being tired.

It may be that I've made myself sick simply by languishing in this autumnal funk. But then again, it may be that this autumnal funk has been made worse by ill health. In any case, I need to find out, if only to reassure the Husband that I am not perversely clinging to illness in order to make his life more difficult. So I'm going, tomorrow. I may lay awake all night tonight, fretting about rare tropical diseases and needles, but I will get up in the morning and keep my appointment.

You'll be holding my hand in spirit, right?

To the best of our knowledge, Asian Bird Flu has not infected the local population of the Great Yellow-Tufted Budgerigar (a feathered, flightless creature, native to central Canada, easily identified by its high-pitched hoot and distinctive waddle).

*********

UPDATE: SO, I am told by doctor that I have, in all likelihood, a post-viral infection, brought on and perpetuated by being consistently run aground by the Great Yellow Budgerigar, which, although flightless, is a fast-moving and demanding creature. Translation: I had a bad virus, and have been unable to recover because there has been no time or physical resources to facilitate recovery, and my body has, accordingly, rebelled.

That, or I'm dying, and the doctor couldn't tell just by shining a light up my nose and in my ears.

69 Comments:

When I'm sick, I put off going to the doctor as long as possible, even if that means I hack up an entire lung before making an appointment. I tend to develop symptoms that result in something that resembles an "oh, you're fine, it's all in your head" diagnosis.

i'm soooo with you on this one. i work myself up so much about going to the doctor's that i end up in tears with anxiety. my first ever gyno visit - i ended up in tears *during* the actual exam, that's how scared i was. so i will definitely be there, spiritually holding your hand (but don't squeeze too hard - my hand is still weak from the IV i had to have a couple weeks ago... blech).

We must be separated at birth. I loathe going to the doctor. You don't even want to know how long its been since I saw the ob/gyn. I've been sick too, but am finally beginning to feel human again.

A couple years ago I was feeling yukky for a long time. I convinced myself I had cancer, as I often do when anything is slightly out of whack. I finally went to the doctor. They did a full work-up and I just knew I was a dead woman walking.

I did not have cancer. They pulled my gall bladder, (the ongoing nausea) gave me some Nexxium (those chest pains ended up being a nasty case of acid reflux) and I felt a LOT better.

Good luck and feel better. I'll be white knuckling with you in spirit.

First of all...how good does she look. Dear gawd, enough to make a woman want to have another baby. Squish!

I am medically phobic as well, I think bad enough that my Doctor dreads the yearly with me. I take an ativan,(want one?). Rescue Remedy does not cut it. So yes, I am Gripping your hands, but you are going to be fine. Cause you are a big strong intelligent brave lady blogger.....

As to your symptoms...HELLO....first year of baby = hell on earth for Mummy and her health. It too shall pass.

I actually don't loathe going to the doctor, but I hear you about sounding like an idiot when I do. I rarely going (believing, instead, that the sickness will magically "go away") simply because I don't want to sound like some lunatic hypochondriac who goes to the doctor just to get attention. You know the type? And, I think that most doctors end up saying something vague like "you must reduce the stress in your life". Yeah, right. Sure! I'll get right on that.

Oh no, I'm not helping am I?

As to the needle thing, I have to be the strong one because the Husband hates them. Try singing the Pina Colada song - it helps. Not much can go wrong with Rupert Holmes by your side, huh?

Anyway. If you have to get blood drawn, ask them to do your arms with Emla or ElaMax. Both are numbing creams. My daughter gets this whenever she has to have a blood draw and she can't feel a thing. You have to put it on 45 minutes before hand, though, so ask when you walk in the door. I've heard that Anbusol or any baby teething stuff will help, too.

I had blood drawn the other day. She MASHED the needle around in my vein. Blood draws don't normally bother me too much, but that one had me writhing. So, yeah. I'll be thinking of you and hoping nothing has to invade you in any way, shape or form.

Well except for the earaches, I have the same symptoms you describe plus a probable sinus infection. So let me know your diagnosis and then I can say I went to the doctor too! Although, I do have a standing appointment with my gyno next week and I am planning on dumping all my symptoms on her plate. We shall see if we are both dying from the same disease.

I hate the doctor, too. And, between my kids and I we have spent way too much time in hospital and at doctor's offices. Hope you feel better, Catherine. When I have to get a needle I close my eyes and mentally picture my gremlins doing something funny. It helps.

Love wonderbaby/birdie- too cute! You explained your symptoms quite eloquently in one short paragraph- but I understand, I too feel like I am either dying and have a new disease, that has yet to be discovered, or I am just a hypochondriac and need more depression meds- to make matters worse, sometimes you get a doc that thinks you are a joke and has no bedside manner- and either tells you that you are full of it - or makes jokes about your symptoms- (sigh) I feel your pain and pray that if there are needles that you get a good phlebotomist- one that gets the vein the 1st time and you don't feel a thing-and that you feel better soon- you are in my thoughts- p.s can I add a link to you on my blog?

Yes, holding your hand and reassuring you that it will be OK! I have some of your same symptoms, and I've made an appointment for myself to go in a couple of weeks--not to a conventional Dr., though, but to a doctor of naturopathy. No needles, only herbs and diet changes and tincture of bat's feet and frog's tongue. Kidding. Kind of.

Good luck and hang tough. WonderBaby's Mama has got to be in top form and deserves to feel good.

yes, I fully sympathize. I always feel a bit inept and embarrassed about foing to the doctor because I think I'm sick, and usually I've waited too long and am getting better and she can't tell what's wrong with me anymore, besides the obvious boneheadedness.

I'm suffering something of a paranoia and quandry about going right now too. Not sure if I'm really having alarming symptoms or are just suffering from hypochondria.

I think the enforced exams and needles in the preggy months have actually made me handle it better ebcause I couldn't get around them, so I just learned to breathe deeply, demand the butterfly needle and the best tech, request a gentle touch, and breathe deeply again until it was over. Turns out the anticipation is usually the worst of it, except during blood tests where the ineptitude is the worst.

We've all been sick for about a month. The wife is on antibiotics for sinus infection and little man still has a hacking cough. While you may hate having to go to the Dr., you do NOT want to go through what I did yesterday. I spent 8 HOURS in the ER writhing in pain from chest spasms and having many tests done (including two with needles and I HATE needles). At the end of it all, the nice ER Doc said "Well, the good news is you don't have a pulmonary embolism but the bad news is you have severe pneumonia." So go to the Dr. and avoid that scenario! Now if you'll excuse me I have to slip into a percocet induced haze.....

I would have been holding your hand, only I'm too late by now. But here is important advice: Before going to the doctor make a list of your symptoms. In writing. Take it with you. Also, make a list of your questions. And then ask them. Even if they sound stupid by the time you see the doctor. Everybody's stupid there. If you were not, you'd be a doctor yourself (or are you?)

And then, and this is important: you don't have to know everything. If you don't know, say I don't know. You might get a mildly annoyed look, but so what.

("And when did you hurt your ankle?" "Ahem, I don't know, in spring maybe? Or last fall?")

I feel guilty for wasting their time too- even though they charge, what, about $200 to come in and tell me it's just a virus? Why should I should feel bad about that? I'm holding your hand and unpacking my goody bag I keep stocked for just these kinds of occasions. Some goldfish crackers, juice, books, hot wheels, etc. To take your mind off of it.

And on the health front: I swear by a B-50 vitamin. It has all the B vitamins, mostly at 50 mg I think but they're all in the right proportions to do good chain reaction things. They help clear out stress hormones, and they helped me get rid of nausea that lasted months when I was not pregnant, and did great things for anxiety and dread too.

And a massage is always good for headaches too. Yay massages!

I've found doctors not very helpful for me in the past. So I did a lot of research about more naturopathic healing methods... But it always good to start at the doctor's. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon! (And I hope the unsolicited advice doesn't annoy you... I did it with the best of intentions.)

That has got to be one of the cutest costumes (and babies!) I have seen to date! Love it!

As for the doctor? I am right there with you. I always feel like I just can't win with them. Either I sound like a hypocondriac (sp?) and they pfft me off like I am insane when it turns out to nothing serious. Or, if something is wrong, then they lecture me on not taking care of myself. So, I just give up and put them off as much as possible. I'd rather be lectured then considered insane. Good luck. Virtual hand holding coming your way!

I'm holding your hand. Also, sometimes it helps me to write it down and just hand the doctor my little post it of symptoms so I don't forget anything. Maybe a little overboard, but I get nervous when those questions are peppered at me and my brain is firing a little slow with sickness to begin with.

Just in case no one has said this (no, I haven't read all the comments and I hope this gets to you in time) ask for a thyroid test just in case. For a long time I would have month-long bouts of "yuckiness" that the doctors said was "nothing but stress". Turns out it WAS stress... stress-induced hyperthyroidism. It's a simple blood test and many women have thyroid issues that they never catch.

Oh, and if they find nothing wrong and you still feel yucky try seeing an actual endocrinologist for your thyroid test.

I know how you feel. My husband says that I'm a hypocondriac, but I'm fed up with feeling blah and there being no reason for it. A visit to an endocrinologist, however, as recommended by 'weirdgirl' is a great idea. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism after my second child. I still feel like I need a lot more synthroid than they are giving me, but, heh, it's a move in the right direction - feeling alive again!Keep your heart up, you're in good company. Most young moms know how you feel.By the way, your little one is so cute in the 'chickie' costume. Her beauty and cuteness is proof that you're doing a good job.Take care of yourself,Lucy

Tell your doctor you want a full thryroid panel done. Then if they find anything really off, go to the Endocrinologist. Thyroid stuff is very common and very easy to treat but can really make you feel like a depressed, wrung out rag if not addressed. And pregnancy can really whack the thyroid. During and after. Or in the case, "peck" the thyroid.

Good for you for going. Notice, I did not say FINALLY going! As a fellow needle-doctor-phobe, I can absolutely relate to how hard it is to actually get the body to pick up the keys, get to the car and actually DRIVE the body to the appointment. All the while the head is playing "I don't want to go I don't want to go I don't want to go."

Yes, intellectually we GET IT. It should be taken care of...yada yada yada, but emotionally??? Yikes. There might be NEEDLES involved in recovery. Shiver. Shake. Cringe. Shake AGAIN.

I know how you feel about going to the doctor. Around here, they love to ask, "How would you rate your pain on a scale of 1 to 10?" and because I'm not a numbers person, I never know what to tell them, which just gets them all annoyed with me.

Maybe it's your doctor???I had doctor dread until I found my current doctor - and I LOVE her. Like, I like her so much and talk so much that she always makes me book extra long appointments so that we can sort everything out (she talked me through PPD - so she's used to me, my tears, etc).But, yes, get a second opinion because it could be something they didn't take the time to diagnose. Like, something minor but solveable. Or go to a naturopath for the vials of liquid that seem to solve problems.Or sleep.Sleep helps too!!Good luck.

I was going to cheer that nothing was wrong (more than new-mom fatigue) but now I see you are on to hyperthroidism....oh dear. I didn't feel better until my child was a year old and had been sleeping regularly so I'm with anne - a week at the spa seems like the perfect cure.

Good for you for going! It is hard to put ourselves in somebody else's hands. I'm not a big fan myself -- but with the difficult pregnancy I'm having, I've had to go lots this year. ARGH.

Hang in there, and feel better SOON!

PS You're not missing anything on ER these days. I was a devotee for years, but I'm just not that into it anymore. I do love love love Grey's Anatomy, but after a day in the ER myself yesterday, I could NOT watch it! That in itself made me laugh....

Love the picture of Turbo Baby. Is this a name change? I'm glad you're not sick also, but now that you've been to a doctor, I'll say it....I was thinking you were pregnant. Anyway, I'm glad you know you're not dying and I hope you feel better soon.

I can completely relate to this post. You should read my latest post about my lady visit. It was an absolute NIGHTMARE! ( I think the fact that the doctor asked me if I give attention to my breasts pretty much summed up the whole surreal experience!) I enjoyed your blog! Very creative! Thanks!

That picture is just too cute...Ah yes, the inability of Mom to get better because hey, let's face it, mom's don't have time to rest! Sounds like that is what the doctor ordered...a little rest. Hopefully your little bird will allow it. I hope you are feeling better soon!

SO behind on blog reading. My heart just sank when I read about the day with Wonderbaby at the window and I am also sorry to hear you have been sick. Go see my naturopath ... seriously ... she can totally help with this kinda thing. See you tonight.

I'm so glad to hear you are not dying...these little chicks are a lot of work, and certainly not made easier when momma bird is under the weather.I totally hate going to the doctor as well.I think that's why I had a midwife.I actually haven't been in almost three years.tsk tsk.I hope you make a full recovery soon.

It's the same illness in our house. Except I spent a fortune at the homeopath before I figured out that I just need to sleep. But you and I both know how it is with desires to make a stamp on the blogosphere -- there is no time for sleep. Hang in there.

Whoa! Be still my beating heart! The Great Yellow Budgerigar is ADORABLE. And I have a terror of needles, too. It has often resulted in ridiculous and embarrassing fainting. So I can relate. I try to get them to talk to me so I'll be sidetracked enough not to pass out. Very glad to hear you're going to live though....